The day Ray Horton was introduced as the Browns' new defensive coordinator, he said he wants his big guys to be fast and his small guys to hit hard.

Another requirement belongs on the list. After three weeks of OTAs, with a three-day minicamp starting Tuesday, it is evident all his players have to be football smart or they won't have a job.

Not only are the Browns converting from the 4-3 coached by Dick Jauron in 2011 and 2012. They are also moving from a defense that rarely blitzed to one that attacks the quarterback whenever possible.

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Horton was the defensive coordinator of the Cardinals last year. He interviewed for several head-coaching jobs, including the one the Browns eventually filled with Rob Chudzinski. But he never got that final handshake from an owner or general manager.

The Cardinals finished 12th defensively last season and sacked quarterbacks 38 times. The Browns, for all their lack of aggression, also posted 38 sacks.

"Ray Horton is so smart in what he does -- he thinks outside the box," said linebacker D'Qwell Jackson, now with his fourth head coach since being drafted in 2006. "He doesn't have a blueprint. He likes to mix it up a little bit. It's going to be harder for offenses to game plan for us."

Jauron and Horton were both NFL defensive backs. Jauron played from 1973-80, and Horton played from 1983-92. Both spent time with the Bengals.

Jackson said Jauron was respected because of his NFL background and the same goes for Horton, yet they have different philosophies.

"They're totally different," Jackson said. "Dick was a cerebral guy. He was so calm. I love everything about Dick. I see him all the time where we live, so we speak all the time.

"Dick Jauron didn't rely on pressuring the quarterback. He wanted to let the offense make a mistake. Ray Horton wants to get after people. He's aggressive. That's not what Dick was."

There is more to learn in Horton's defense, Jackson said. Horton had players playing multiple positions in OTAs to see where they play best. Jabaal Sheard is moving from end to outside linebacker, but he isn't the only one. Johnson Bademosi is moving from cornerback to safety, and Ahtyba Rubin is moving from defensive tackle to end. Outside linebackers moved from side to side.

"It's a totally different defense, so there is a lot of adjustments -- terminology, drops, the way I call games, the way I ask them to learn the defense," Horton said. "Right now, I'm just asking them to trust me and trust the defense and they are doing that. We are pleased with where we are in OTAs."

The front office poured money in free agency and high draft picks into improving the defense. The Browns' top two free-agent pickups were linebacker Paul Kruger and defensive end Desmond Bryant. They picked five players in the draft and did not take one on offense until they drafted offensive lineman Garrett Gilkey from Chadron State with the 227th pick. Nobody is happier about that strategy than Horton.

"I am very pleased with how Mr. (Joe) Banner, Mr. (Jimmy) Haslam and how Coach (Rob) Chud (Chudzinski) have stockpiled the defense," Horton said. "We have got a lot of talent, and we are going to try to figure out who fits where best for the Cleveland Browns to play very good defense.

"Everywhere I go I hear about the Dawg Pound. I meet people, and they say they are in the Dawg Pound third row or this or that and they are excited. We are excited to put a good product on the field that the Cleveland fans will love and be excited about."

The Browns ranked 23rd defensively last year. They gave up 27 passing touchdowns and 14 rushing touchdowns.